This cover illustrates a good friend’s undergraduate research in biophysics. She studied the thrust and power output of the bacterial flagellar motor using magnetization. The lab used Xbox 360 controllers to “drive” their bacterial specimens over a micromagnetic platform and comprehend the mechanics of their movement. This pioneering study earned her a spot in Princeton University’s physics doctoral program.

I found the team’s use of outdated gaming controllers in such a setting quite amusing. The visual metaphor to explain her research writes itself—and resonates with younger lay audiences.

Assets for this piece were created in Autodesk Maya and Maxon ZBrush.